A Harrisburg, Mo., teacher and coachdied after the school bus he was driving was hit by a pickup truck head-on Thursday afternoon in Boone County.
The Dodge Ram pickup truck crossed the center lane and hit the bus, the Columbia Daily Tribune reported. Five students on the Harrisburg track team were on the bus at the time of the crash. Both the bus and pickup were lying on their side after the crash.
Brian Simpson, a history teacher and baseball, cross-country and quiz bowl coach, died in the crash, Harrisburg Superintendent Steve Combs said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Four of the students escaped the bus through the rear door and escape hatch on the bus ceiling, the Daily Tribune reported. The last student was pulled out by a firefighter as the bus caught fire.
Four of the students were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, the Columbia Daily Tribune reported. The truck driver was taken by helicopter to University Hospital. Firefighters had to cut the roof of his truck to get him out.
The district canceled school Friday and is providing counselors for students who may need support.
Dear Harrisburg School Community,It is with a very heavy heart that I am informing you that a bus carrying our cross...
Posted by Harrisburg R-8 School District on Thursday, September 28, 2017
Kara Berg: 618-239-2626, @karaberg95
This story was originally published September 28, 2017 11:34 PM.